The Grey Wizard Spellbinding in Cape Henlopen Stakes
By: Molly Rollins BloodHorse
The Grey Wizard took one step closer to a possible stint in the Melbourne Cup (G1) with his last-to-first victory in the $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes Aug. 21 at Delaware Park.
Campaigned for the colors of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and The Estate of Albert Frassetto, The Grey Wizard was making his first start since winning the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2T) June 6. Besides breaking the Saratoga Race Course turf track record that day, the 5-year-old gelding landed a first-class ticket to Australia when securing an automatic slot in the starting gate to the Nov. 5 Melbourne Cup.
Under the care of Graham Motion, team The Grey Wizard hatched a plan to prepare for the son of Caravaggio in his bid to become the first United States-trained horse to capture Australia’s richest race. The Cape Henlopen would be first, followed by the Sept. 11 $500,000 Nashville Gold Cup, held over 2 1/16 miles, at Kentucky Downs. If The Grey Wizard were to win or perform well in both, the Melbourne Cup would be in the playing cards.
One step down.
With jockey John Velazquez flying in from Saratoga to ride The Grey Wizard, the pair galloped in last of five early before making their move with a half-mile to run in the 1 1/2-mile contest. Inhaling his rivals turning for home, The Grey Wizard was a blur of silver down the stretch, flashing under the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 2:32.70 over a firm turf course.
Limited Liability ran on willingly for second with English Conqueror checking in third.
“I knew my horse did not have a lot of speed and he is a little slow coming out of the gate, but they started slowing down the second and then the third quarter so I decided I better start moving to keep him in a good rhythm moving forwardly,” said Velazquez. “By the time we were at the half-mile pole, I was right where I wanted to be and I got him moving into a great rhythm. When we got into the lane, I asked him and he just moved away from them.”
The Grey Wizard, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, returned $4.20.